Vale of White Horse District Council provide £31,200 to Grove Parish Council to help buy a new tractor

Grove Parish Council was allocated £31,200 to buy a brand-new tractor to help with the upkeep of existing pitches and grass at their popular recreation ground.

The funds were allocated by Vale of White Horse District Council, towards a new tractor for Grove Recreation Ground, by using money collected from housing developers as part of an agreement to build 165 new homes in Letcombe Fields in Wantage and Letcombe Gardens in Grove. 

The parish council maintain the large recreation ground, which has three rugby and two football full-sized pitches, junior football pitches and a floodlit training pitch.  Grove Rugby Club, Grove Rangers FC and Grove Challengers FC use the pitches for their junior and adult team matches, and the grounds are used more widely throughout the year by the people living in the area.

The new medium-wheeled tractor vehicle will maintain and improve the whole recreation ground, including the football and rugby pitches, and using specialised attachments to level, fertilise, scarify the ground, seed and cut the grassed area, and to aerate the lawn to prevent the pitches from becoming water logged. 

Cllr Bethia Thomas, Cabinet Member for Development and Regeneration at the district council said, “The recreation ground is a great asset to the village and enjoyed by people of all ages all year round.  With the extra funds, the tractor will help to keep this popular community space a safe and attractive environment for new and existing residents.”

Graham Mundy, Grove Parish Clerk, said, “Grove Parish Council would like to thank the District Council for agreeing to release the funds for the Council to purchase this tractor from a local business.  The tractor will enable the Council’s own maintenance staff to maintain the sports pitches and other green areas around Grove to a higher standard.”